Every week at All Saints Church we put our faith into action. This week we want to commend the Biden Administration’s commitment to addressing the issue of gun violence and safeguarding our communities with the establishment of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention.

We are very pleased with the objectives he has tasked for this office. Under Vice President Kamala Harris’s oversight, in coalition with gun safety advocates, this office will spearhead implementing existing laws and work with local authorities to pass additional gun safety legislation. It will also work to address the root causes of gun violence, such as poverty and mental illness.

In 2021, the most recent year for which complete data is available, 48,830 people died from gun-related injuries in the U.S., according to the CDC. 54% of all gun-related deaths in the U.S. were suicides (26,328), while 43% were murders (20,958). The remainder were accidental, involving law enforcement or undetermined.

Easy access to weapons fuels these statistics across the board. However, it is the increasing frequency and scale of mass killings that has drawn the focus of the nation. It is also very concerning that domestic terrorism is a growing motivation. The availability of military-grade firearms significantly amplifies the capacity of violent extremists to cause mass harm, especially towards children and marginalized communities.

The FBI has stated, and Congressional investigations have found, that white supremacists and other far-right-wing extremists are the most significant domestic terrorism threat facing the United States. Notably, some of the most fatal mass shootings have been perpetrated by violent extremists with racist motivations.

We are committed to supporting the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention in developing policies and initiatives that prioritize human security, and the safety and well-being of all Americans.

Please sign the letter to President Biden.

Options to Take Action:

1. Sign the petition at the Action Table on Sunday.
2. Download, sign and mail the Action Letter to President Biden.

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If you ever need to look up your member of the U.S. House of Representatives or your U.S. Senators check here: www.house.gov and www.senate.gov.

To find contact information for your California State Senator or California State Assemblymember check here: www.senate.ca.gov and www.assembly.ca.gov.